The Challenge

[Catherine]

thanks Robert! yes..I am a Yank...but I am truly Brit as well....and I have a lovely bugalow in Shaftesbury to prove it! :) so I'm not wholly insulted...only slightly!

I still think a free-for-all is due to us! :)

Liverpool...well..that explains a lot! bit I can tell you it isn;t nearly as bad as some of the places here...

[Catherine]

so Robert...back in post 67..you sais you thought this trip would likely take you years! how far have you gotten now? I have only 10 ( I think)...so I may take years myself....perhaps we could travel together...seeing as Ian jumped out of the aircraft!!! he left me high and dry! some co-pilot he is! lol

[Ian, Moderator]

Now kiddies....settle down....Santa is coming tomorrow.

[Catherine]

um...Ian...what soes Santa have to do with your being my co-pilot??!?!?!

[Jo Ann]

I will be. I am a new member and have become fixated on travel literature for over a year now. I plan to add the book s I completed last year (2012) to my list of 80, as well as the one I am currently reading which is LONG but one I can't seem to put down. It is called Shantaram by George David Roberts and I would highly recommend reading the reviews and description of this book because it is, in my opinion, in a class by itself. Glad to be included in this group!!!

[Robert]

Ian. probably been asked this before. Isle of Mann. we counting this as country as we have Channel islands?

[Robert]

still looking for ruling on Isle of Man. own government I think should allow it. like Jersey

[Em]

Perhaps Ian can't remember what he decided on the Isle of Man , he's got re-read all 7 pages of postings to avoid an outcry!

[Ian, Moderator]

Ruled on previously.....and it was a no, but on reflection despite Em's predicted and wholly understandable outcry, I'll allow it Bob.....but this is not to be taken as a precedent or any sign that I am mellowing as the judge or indeed that flattery or bribery works lol.

[Stephen]

Robert wrote: "still looking for ruling on Isle of Man. own government I think should allow it. like Jersey"

Government





A composite satellite image of the Isle of Man
Main article: Isle of Man Government

The United Kingdom is responsible for the island's defence and ultimately for good governance, and for representing the island in international forums, while the island's own parliament and government have competence over all domestic matters.[38]

[Robert]

Thanks Ian. book reading is Kindle 20p thriller. safe House. Really good

[Vicky]

Ian wrote: "Thought I'd set up a new challenge that people may want to take on as a long term project.

Based loosely on by Jules Verne, the challenge is to re..."

Hi Ian, i like the sound of this challenge. How do you determine which country the book reflects if it is set in different countries? I'm reading Fall of Giants at the moment which is set in Wales, England, Russia and France so far. I don't know which one to use it for? Also, I read The Tea Planter's Daughter which was set in England and India, can I use it for India? I know it's just a bit of fun but I want to do it properly! Thanks

[Ian, Moderator]

Hi Vicky

My idea was/is that it has to be the primary location - ie re England & India - the allowable country would be the one where most time was spent? The same would apply to more complicated ones with several countries like Fall of Giants. I've just read Night Soldiers by Alan Furst that starts in Bulgaria, but then goes to Russia, Spain, France, Switzerland, Roumania and finally to Macedonia. However the most action/pages took place in France so I couldn't count it as I'd already been to France earlier on in my challenge.

However, although a lot of people are doing the same as me, some members are being much, much easier on themselves by just picking one of the countries in the book as they see fit.

So it's really up to you and how you want to do it. Just detail how you are going to do it in your first post when you open up your own thread in the challenge.

Will be good to have you in the balloon.

[Andrew]

If anyone is interested There is a great site called 'Mrs Peabody investigates'(googable) mrspeabodyinvestigates.wordpress.com which regularly reviews crime fiction especially foreign crime. The current blog includes a feed to The Independent foreign fiction awards 2013 which are those books translated into English. There are some really interesting books for prospective travelers. www.booktrust.org.uk/prizesandawards

[Ian, Moderator]

Ta Andrew...the book trust seem to have updated their site....this link goes direct to the foreign fiction ones tho' rest of site full of good stuff.
http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-an...
Been looking for a good Syria book for a while and looks just the ticket - -- at least when the kindle price of c.£11 comes down lol.

Ditto for Mozambique and Albania with and .

Top man Andrew!!!

[Robert]

Ian
New ruling please Northern Island ?

[Robert]

I am going to add to list and wil withdraw if you decide not allowed

[Ian, Moderator]

Northern Ireland OK Bob.

[Em]

Thank Gawd for that! I think Bob was going to well and truly chuck his toys out of the pram then!!

[Robert]

Em wrote: "Thank Gawd for that! I think Bob was going to well and truly chuck his toys out of the pram then!!"

ME!!!! never

[Ian, Moderator]

He's got no toys left Em....chucked em all long time since lol......sucking thumb best future option now.....and anyway, Bob only third person to get to 50 so far, so what's to complain about.....go Bob, mighty world traveller....respect!!

[Robert]

next book Kenya. Think may get round world with running books at this rate. RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS. Third one

[Ian, Moderator]

Kindle daily deal today has a memoir set in Kosovo - which Im ok to allow as a country on the same basis as we are allowing Palestine - Serbia and Glasgow. by Remzija Sherifi. Might be worth a 99p punt.

[Sarah]

I'd like to join in. Are there a set 80 countries that we need to cover or can we choose which 80 countries?

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Sarah wrote: "I'd like to join in. Are there a set 80 countries that we need to cover or can we choose which 80 countries?"


Choose which ever countries you want to visit.

[Ian, Moderator]

The world is your oyster Sarah.

[Sarah]

Thanks Lynne and Ian for the clarification!

[Ian, Moderator]

For anyone with a kindle looking for a great historical fiction WW2 book set in Malaysia, is currently only 99p. I loved it.

[Lynda]

I'd like to come along for the trip

[Ian, Moderator]

Welcome Lynda. Just set up your own thread when you start.

[Helen]

I've not been in this thread for ages, it's hilarious. Ian, I could picture you as a pilot!

[Ian, Moderator]

Naughty uniform fantasizng now H. I've got a mate who is a pilot so I could borrow his lol.

[Hannah]

This seems like a challenge but I think I'm gonna have to give it a go!
Although I love reading books set in other countries I've never actually considered choosing a book by where it's set.
Tempted to use books I've previously read but I shall behave and start afresh.
Requesting permission to come aboard!

[Catherine]

Helen wrote: "I've not been in this thread for ages, it's hilarious. Ian, I could picture you as a pilot!"

he's only a co-pilot! lol I'm the pilot:)

[Ian, Moderator]

All welcome Hannah.

[Ian, Moderator]

Good sounding Philipines book today on kindle daily deal .

[Sue]

Ian wrote: "Good sounding Philipines book today on kindle daily deal ."
aagh missed it - now £6.59!

[Andrew]

Any views on chechneya Ian, accord to wikipedia it is part of Russian federation but id like to count as seperate country as picked book up at library!!

[Ian, Moderator]

Will have to research all my previous cruel but fair rulings - mostly against Bob it has to be said - but don't get your hopes up as I'm leaning more towards a nyet than a da.

[Andrew]

Worth a try I will put it down for Russia but at which point Putin will probably grant them independence, anyway fills up that yawning red gap!

[Ian, Moderator]

Over his dead embalmed body methinks.

[Robert]

Ian wrote: "Will have to research all my previous cruel but fair rulings - mostly against Bob it has to be said - but don't get your hopes up as I'm leaning more towards a nyet than a da."

Glad to see season of goodwill not touched you Ian

[Ian, Moderator]

It's still November Bob.

[Catherine]

scrooge!

[Helen]

Robert wrote: "Ian wrote: "Will have to research all my previous cruel but fair rulings - mostly against Bob it has to be said - but don't get your hopes up as I'm leaning more towards a nyet than a da."

Glad to..."

Lol

[Ellie]

Interesting resource for anyone looking for suggestions of books (and also for books for challenges like US States) - https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Just joined, don't know if anyone else is a member.

[Ian, Moderator]

Me and Sue are Ellie.

[Ellie]

I suspected other people might be, especially our more successful world travellers like yourselves :-)

[Ian, Moderator]

The 2 groups tend to x-fertilise. We both came up with ATW independently. I then copied their US states one and Diane copied our UK Counties challenge.

[Robyn]

Any views on chechneya Ian, accord to wikipedia it is part of Russian federation but id like to count as seperate country as picked book up at library!!

I was wondering about that when I saw A Constellation of Vital Phenomena on a Best Of... list.